Christmas night in the shed

"I have to hold your hand because it's scarey outside in the dark and you won't be frightened," In truth it was more likely to be my 5 year old grandson who would be frightened but anyway we held hands.

"You have to go on the stepping stones because it's very muddy out there," We gingerly picked our way across a path of chip-board paving slabs laid across the lawn which curved round to the little wooden door. The key to the door was retrieved from a little pocket and pushed into the lock. "You open it, it sticks, but I'm having a padlock next week," I duly opened the door.

Beyond the door was a little wooden room, walls painted in camouflage shades. Across the far one was a worktop with cupboards underneath, above it was a list of rules, no drawing on the walls, no being messy and no playing with electric. "That's my rules, so anyone knows. You have to take your shoes off really but you needn't, you'll get too cold"

"I can do anything in this shed, painting, reading, building, sawing. It's all mine, Daddy and Grandad made it and Father Christmas brought me the key." The earnest little face looked into mine to see that I understood.

"This is my own real shed-house and I can do painting whenever I want, look." I was treated to a master class, each paint was shown to me, a brush stuck in and thoughtful lines in various colours streaked across the page. It was the Stable where the Christmas donkey lived apparently and had a star over the top, very seasonal. After that I was shown all the miniature tools, had a demonstration of how to saw wood like Grandad and even offered a drink from the diminutive water cooler. A cloth was on the worktop and was used for keeping the windows clean, "Just so I can see outside, and I've even got a mirror so I can spy who's behind me."

"I can even read in here." A quick rummage in the cupboard produced 'The Owl who was Afraid of the Dark'. He sat back in the chair and open it at random, "Hmm let's see, a, up, me. Yeah, well I can only do more easier ones yet." He jumped down and returned the book.

A big smile beamed out of the normally serious little face, "I love this shed-house and it's all mine. I could kiss it all over and I could even marry it sometime. Hmm, might be a bit big though".